The Uganda Investment Authority Women Entrepreneur's Network (UIAWEN) was launched in June 2001 purposely to strengthen the participation of women in the national development process and to improve their general standard of living.
UIAWEN seeks to expose women entrepreneurs in Uganda to greater business opportunities and to programs aimed at enhancing competitiveness in their operations. The membership criterion is women in business, professionals and corporate chief executives who meet regularly to share experiences and success stories. At the moment the network comprises of 300 women entrepreneurs in small, medium and large enterprises.
Uganda women through different national emancipation programmes have been sensitized to engage in business. A good number of them have indeed identified and developed some project ideas. Others are yet to decide on possible options.
In general, motivation among Ugandan women is high to invest in something. What has perhaps been lacking is the access to vital information to help them start and /or operate their business most efficiently.
UIAWEN was therefore started to realize the following objectives:
UIAWEN seeks to expose women entrepreneurs in Uganda to greater business opportunities and to programs aimed at enhancing competitiveness in their operations. The membership criterion is women in business, professionals and corporate chief executives who meet regularly to share experiences and success stories. At the moment the network comprises of 300 women entrepreneurs in small, medium and large enterprises.
Uganda women through different national emancipation programmes have been sensitized to engage in business. A good number of them have indeed identified and developed some project ideas. Others are yet to decide on possible options.
In general, motivation among Ugandan women is high to invest in something. What has perhaps been lacking is the access to vital information to help them start and /or operate their business most efficiently.
UIAWEN was therefore started to realize the following objectives:
- To strengthen the participation of women in the development process through networking , information sharing, mentoring , capacity building , and leadership skills;
- To recognize and strengthen active participation of women in economic activities aimed at improving their general living standards;
- To promote networking and information sharing among women entrepreneurs and to learn from examples of successful entrepreneurs;
- To promote greater exposure of Uganda women entrepreneurs through intra—Africa and international networking among women organized under different women networks;
- To provide mentorship and necessary behavioural inputs to upcoming women entrepreneurs so as to generate the desired motivation and reinforcement of entrepreneurial traits aimed at creating confidence to face the future;
- To facilitate young women entrepreneurs in decision—making process to set up new ventures;
- To provide a ready point of contact for facilitating joint ventures and match making with international investors;
- To advise government through UIA on the challenges facing women entrepreneurs and recommend appropriate regulatory and policy measures to address them and;
- To provide capacity building to women entrepreneurs so as to ensure sustainability of their businesses.